Fable by Adrienne Young is the first book in a new young adult fantasy duology. This new fantasy series is one that immediately appealed to me as it’s one set on the sea with a strong female lead so with my attachment to all things pirate I went in with high hopes.

Fable is a seventeen year old who does whatever she needs to do to survive the harsh enviroment that surrounds her. Four years before Fable’s mother had died, drowning during a huge storm, and at that time her father, the most powerful trader in the Narrows, abandoned her so she then needed to learn quickly how to adapt to her new surroundings and survive.

Fable has been saving her coin as she spends her time diving into the deep to find the rare gems that others have left behind. Fable’s mother had taught her some of her skills before her passing so Fable uses that knowledge to help her find the best wares to trade so she can escape the island that has been her home the last four years and finally go in search of the father that abandoned her.

Immediately as one begins to read Fable it becomes easy to see this as a highly immersive tale as the action begins in the first few pages. Fable is one that adapts well to what needs to be done in order to survive and doesn’t take anything from those around her so it was easy to root for her all throughout the story. Seeing the length of this one i was a bit worried it may be slow going but it really turned out to be more fast paced moving from one thing to another and had my attention from the very beginning. It will definitely be interesting to see where the story goes in the next book now knowing how this one has ended so count me as one to be among the first in line for book two!

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This is probably my favorite read of the year. This book has action, adventure and hint of romance. I loved all the characters and their interactions with each other. A great story that ends on a cliffhanger that leaves you wanting more!

I love pirate/sailing stories so when I heard about Adrienne Young’s new book Fable, I couldn’t wait! Fable is definitely a slower book but there’s still plenty of action and adventure! It took me a bit to connect with the main character, Fable, but I eventually grew to like her. However, I did love her character growth throughout the course of the novel.

Plus I absolutely adored her found family, they were really the best part of the novel. There’s also some pretty cool magic that I’m hoping will be expanded in the second book of this duology. And I really liked getting to learn so much about sailing and diving! Overall, Fable is definitely worth a read if you like Adrienne Young’s books and/or YA books featuring pirates and sailors.

Fable is the daughter of the most powerful merchant of the Narrows, the sea is the only home she knows. She is 17 years old and it has been 4 years since her father abandoned her on an island full of thieves with little food. To survive she can only rely on herself and on the talent her mother left her. Indeed she can feel the vibrations of the stones under the sea and go to fetch them in order to sell them for food. She only dreams of one thing, to go back to her father and prove to him that she is made for this life. To do so, she will land on West’s boat so that he can drop her off on the island where her father lives. You understand well that everything will not happen as planned…

Fable was a child who was loved by her mother, as far as her father was concerned I also think it was the case but he couldn’t show it. It was a risk and by abandoning her he tried to protect her, I know it’s a twisted explanation but it’s understandable. Fable is a young girl full of potential, she has a talent, she is also full of good will, she doesn’t want to owe anything to anyone and in the end she will become attached to the whole crew. You will have understood that I like Fable a lot, she is a heroine as I like them, certainly she makes mistakes, she is unable to obey, even for her own good but in the end she is so endearing.

West is a charming boy, you can feel from the beginning that he is trying to protect Fable, he only buys stones from Fable, he comes to the island very often, so yes he has a hidden reason but he could have given up, something he didn’t do, he even saved Fable from an almost certain death. He is a good boat captain, he is young but he knows how to be respected, he makes good decisions and he will see all the colors.

I liked the beginning of the collaboration, if we can call it that, between Fable and the crew, necessarily at the beginning nobody trusts her, nobody wants her to be there but little by little, they open up and start to appreciate this young girl.

I like Adrienne Young’s style very much, I liked these previous novels a lot and this one is no exception. I have only one thing to say: WHAT IS THIS END!!!!!!! Why make me wait so long for Namesake (Volume 2). I’m really looking forward to finding out what will happen next and how the story of Fable and West will end.

Quick Word: This book is a nugget, read it!

This is going to be one tough review, but I'll do my best to be as honest and detailed as possible.

Let's start from the beginning. FIVE GLORIOUS STARS. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is not the kind of smooth beginning that takes you by the arm into a wondrous world of magic and seas. It's the kind of start that grabs you by the neck and sinks into the deep saltwater then shoves you onto an island of thieves and liars where you are left to fend for yourself. The rules of this world are aptly put:
"Keep your knife where you can reach it.
Never ever owe anyone anything.
Nothing is free.
Always construct a lie from the truth.
Never under any circumstances reveal what or who matters to you."

And that's that.

Moving on from the beginning. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The rating dips a little for the many backstories and the slowdown in pace. Young was still building the world layer by layer, but the plot seemed to slowly move forward.

Then it dipped further. ⭐⭐⭐
The plot kind of halted here. I do not wish to share any spoilers. Here we see enemies turn into allies, maybe even frenemies. But it wasn't convincing enough, mainly because the characters that were supposed to elevate the plot at this point weren't developed enough. This part actually sagged.

The real damper. ⭐⭐
The romance. Ugh! It's a real damper for me. "It was love all along" and all that. Fable didn't get proper credit for getting herself out of whatever it was that she was thrown into. And who really was the credit attributed to? I'm not gonna say., but it pissed me off.

I really really really wanted to like this book more. I wanted to love it as much as I loved it in the beginning. I'm curious about how things are going to develop for Fable in the next instalment, now that we've got past the angst and sea shenanigans.

So much thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.

Absolutely incredible. Thank you, Adrienne Young for bringing us the fantastic adventure that is Fable. I dove into the story with no expectations, having requested from netgalley and forgetting what it was even about. NO MATTER. I was swept away by the current of this tale from minute one. I’ve since seen the writing style described as “lyrical” and I would most agree. Following young Fable on a high stakes deliverance, the story takes you where you would least expect. The beautiful descriptions of under the sea and the magical character development had me not wanting to put this book down!

This high seas adventure was such a pretty tale. The narrative is simple and sweet, and the characters endearing. Can’t wait to read the second part, because that cliffhanger ending left me needing to know what will happen next to Fable and the gang.

Fable is an incredibly gripping story set at sea with awesome pirate themes. I was't sure how I was going to like this one, but I put my faith in Adrienne Young and I dove in head first (like Fable does into the sea.) This story is fast paces, has a lot going on (not too overwhelming) and I did not want to put it down. I ordered my physical copy and the sequel when I was halfway through because the story was going in a wonderful direction. If you like anything piratey or a book set at sea, you NEED to pick up Fable.

I really enjoyed this! I absolutely LOVED Fable and I honestly think she is one of the strongest YA heroines I’ve ever read about! I mean, her father basically abandoned her on an island filled with thieves and told her to take care of herself.... and she did! She saves and plans to escape, however, things don’t go her way.... I’m so happy I got the chance to read this and can’t wait for the next one! Can’t wait to dive back into this world, because it’s so addicting I literally forgot where I was while reading this! I loved the pacing AND the writing! This is a first time author for me and I can’t wait to see what else she does! (So sorry this is late! School is kicking my butt!)

I just finished this book and has literally hit me in the gut.
This book starts off with a girl named fable left in a place her father left her at to fend for herself and told her he would give her what she was promised if she can make it out of that place. She has to fight everyday to survive and her goal is to pay for passage on a ship and leave that place behind and join her fathers crew.
You love Fable from the beginning. She is a survivor and how she survived was following her fathers rules. She ends up on a ship and a crew that is learning to accept her.
I dont want to spoil it all but this was a page turner, I loved Adrienne's first book but you can tell her writing has only gotten better and this book literally pulls you in and drowns you.

5 stars

This was a unique start to a new young adult fantastical series. From the second I started reading I could not put this one down and I finished it in the same day. The main character Fable is relatable even if she is forced to live on the wrong side of the law. Fable was left on an island of thieves and told to fend for herself by her father. Fable has been planning and attempting to save enough to escape but nothing goes according to her plans. I loved this book and can absolutely not wait until the next volume comes out. The writing was great and the story was well-paced. There was good world building but it wasn’t caught up in being overly descriptive.

Another great one from Adrienne Young. Absolutely loved this! Excited for the sequel! This cover is gorgeous!! Felt like Fable was very relatable and loved following this character! Definitely recommend this book!

Fable has so much adventure and beautifully described setting that it caught me from the first sentence and did not let go. Watching Fable struggle to survive and find her family was an emotionally charged adventure. This story is heartfelt, and the entire cast of characters are so endearing you can’t help but to care for them all. I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a good “pirate” type adventure where being smart is more important than magic or strength. I honestly can’t wait until the next book!

*Thank you Wednesday Books at St. Martin’s Press for the eARC from Netgalley.

4.25 / 5 stars

Left alone, surrounded by the dangerous sea lies Fable. Ever since she was abandoned by her father after her mother’s death, Fable has faced many challenges during her fight for survival. When opportunity strikes, Fable finds herself back on the sea as she sets off to get what belongs to her.

I really enjoyed Fable’s story. I love this world that Adrienne Young creates. The author’s writing flows smoothly and helps the reader visualize being out on the sea with Fable. This book includes an excellent cast of characters. I truly enjoyed reading about all the characters in this book. The character dynamics, friendship, representation, and found-family life was everything that I did not know I wanted. I thought that Fable was an excellent main character and I fully supported her motivations as well.

The pacing of this book is very good. I enjoyed all of the plot elements and world-building. The idea that Fable is a sea-loving gem sage was so fascinating to me. I thought that this inclusion was so well incorporated and made the story much more interesting. I did not really see the “dredger” aspect coming in to play, but I am so glad that it did. As the reader follows the lives of those out on the sea, they learn that not everything is easy or fun. The incorporation of rough sea storms, danger/suspense, and ship duties made for an even better story.

I kind of wish this was a standalone, but overall this book was very well-done. I look forward to continuing on with Fable’s story.

Completely immersive! Full of action and betrayal. The plot was fast paced but seamless, the storyline as well was seamless. Easy to follow, fun to read!! The characters are relatable and exciting! The strength and uniqueness of each arc is impressive. I absolutely loved it and cant wait to start namesake!!

“The bastard was leaving me again.”
Fable, Chapter 1 by Adrienne Young ~ Published by Wednesday Books
And so begins our tale of Fable, dredger (see also "to bring up or dig up"–she is a treasure diver, basically) and daughter of the most powerful sea trader in the Narrows. However, she was abandoned on an island and left to survive on her own from a young age. Now we follow her as she begins her adventure off the island on a ship captained by West, who she soon finds out is not who he seems. The stakes are high, the adventure is epic, and readers (i.e. ME!) are already looking forward to book 2!

I really looked forward to this book and it did not disappoint. The premise sounded amazing and I really enjoyed reading it. The characters were well written and characterized. I thought the pacing was good. I cannot wait to read the sequel.

4.5 stars!

Once again, Adrienne Young gifts us all with a beautifully written, heartfelt story with a complex, fierce-in-her-own-way main character and lush world-building that goes far beyond the page! She's not the type to describe every little detail of everything. Instead, she offers us just enough to know how vast the world is, and how much there would be to explore, if only we were given the chance.

I loved pretty much everything about the book. The world was interesting from the start, and Adrienne's prose is always something to behold. Fable had my heart as soon as she did something unexpected. I love when a scenario seems like it could go either one way or another... and then the main character does something surprising that takes it a direction you didn't even realize it could go. I'm staying vague to keep this spoiler-free, but suffice to say, I was well and truly hooked as soon as that happened.

Overall, this was such a fun, and frustrating-at-times adventure story (but frustrating in a GOOD way, like... you just want to punch the villain in the face while simultaneously cheering the main character / scrappy ragtag main squad to beat those odds)! It's my favorite of Adrienne's thus far, and I can't WAIT to get my hands on Namesake!

Huge thank you to Wednesday Books for an advanced e-copy of the book via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I have a weakness for pirate and pirate-related stories, especially when they're female character centered. Adrienne Young's Fable is the first book in a duology that follows a young woman named Fable who has been left on an island by her father with the directive to get off that island. Once she gets off the island by spending the last of her coin, Fable begins to realize there is so much more to the world in which she lives and to which she discovers she belongs than she had ever imagined.

As a dredger, Fable dives to collect stones in the sea, and she keeps to herself that she has a knack for discerning the truth about stones and gems. During her voyage on The Marigold, the crew learns that Fable's stone-scrying ability isn't just a hunch or a knack; she could be a stone sage, one who intuitively knows everything about a particular stone and its value. Her abilities as a stone sage tie into her family, and the more she learns about her father who left her on the island and her mother who died in a wreck the more she learns about herself and who she is - and who she's meant to be.

To Fable, nobody is who they present themselves to be. Everyone, including her, carries secrets that are only revealed in time. The book itself is slow to open and slow to make these revelations, and once they are revealed I was left both satisfied and wanting more. By the time the action picked up and carried me through the last third of the novel, it was over and left on a cliffhanger that made me glad the sequel is releasing in only a few months! Each of the characters lean more toward the morally grey area that seems relatively popular in YA fantasy these days, and this leans into the grimdark style of fantasy too. It's a harsh world, and you can only survive if you keep the soft, quiet things close to your heart.

Even though the world-building takes up quite a chunk of this first installment of a duology, it never felt unnecessary. The tension created from the first line ties all of this story together (and hopefully through the sequel!), and the tension kept me turning the pages to see where and how it would all tie together. I was not disappointed, and I can't wait to see how all of this ends. If you like Pirates of the Caribbean and The Princess Bride, I think this one will be right up your alley.

Adrienne Young has another winner!! She is quickly becoming one of my favorite YA authors, and authors in general. Fable falls in to her previous stories' universe. Not only do we meet an incredible woman (Fable), and follow a delightful story, but we also get more info into this universe and the people in it.



I freaking loved this book. The characters are funny, warm (mostly), and dynamic. Fable has a story that seems as old as tale-telling, but Young is able to make this particular journey unique. It's damn awesome.



We'll find out more about Fable in the sequel, and I can not wait!



5/5 Stars